The Bentonville Beacon

Summary

In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Bryan Fittin, Founder and CEO of Go Rogue Studio, a video production company who partners with individuals and businesses to create exceptionally customized content fit for unique brands, strategies and goals. With fifteen years of experience in the corporate world, Bryan’s journey from a career in sales and development to founding a creative agency provides a unique perspective on what it takes to thrive in today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving business landscape. Bryan’s multifaceted role as a leader, mentor and community influencer makes him a key player in shaping the strong entrepreneurial spirit of the Greater Bentonville Area. Throughout the conversation, Bryan shares how lessons he learned from his corporate background have translated to business ownership, how Go Rogue is striving to build a network of creators and how Bentonville works to foster creativity and innovation in its entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:57) Introduction to Bryan Fittin

(4:29) About Go Rogue

(8:47) About the Rogue Creators Podcast

(11:07) Building a Network of Creators

(13:53) Translating a Sales Background to Leadership Skills

(17:54) How Bentonville Has Impacted the Growth of Go Rogue

(20:14) How Bentonville Fosters Creativity and Innovation

(22:28) Why Bentonville Stands Out to Entrepreneurs and Creators

(25:34) Bryan’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(28:39) What’s Next for Go Rogue

(33:20) Advice to Aspiring Entrepreneurs

(49:17) Closing Thoughts

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Bryan Fittin

Go Rogue Studio

Rogue Creators Podcast

Quotes

“[The Rogue Creators podcast] is a more selfish desire for me to be around other creatives and have those conversations and really create a community and a network of people because a lot of times what happens is, especially creators, we get this silo mentality…And that’s just not a way of growing. You have to collaborate to grow. And so for me that’s how can I get around creatives, have fun conversations with them, and get to know them as well as their processes.” - Bryan Fittin, (10:21)

“I expected [the Rogue Creators event] to be something small and we had people show up and it was great. We had some great sponsors as well and it was just a great time of people getting to know each other, and now we have people asking us when are you guys going to do that again…We even had some sponsors come on and say we want to sponsor the next one, which is super encouraging. And so that is something specifically for Bentonville, and Northwest Arkansas in general is a great place to be because of that. The community here wants to support.” - Bryan Fittin, (11:46)

“I think with the investments of the Waltons in general, obviously with the technology side of things, as well as mountain biking, I would say just being around and being in these conversations and hearing them and what you’re seeing, it only encourages you to do more and to be a part of that. And so this community is very alive. Bentonville is very alive.” - Bryan Fittin, (20:29)

Summary

In this insightful episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell shares the studio with Andres Lazarte, Co-Founder & President of Basis Health, a pioneering healthcare provider that relocated from Boise, Idaho, to Bentonville, Arkansas, in 2021. Basis Health is revolutionizing healthcare for aging people by delivering expert medical care right in the comfort of their homes. Basis makes healthcare accessible to elderly patients regardless of living setting and is reducing unnecessary hospital visits and healthcare costs, improving their quality of life.

Dedicated to innovation, Basis Health is at the forefront of shifting healthcare to a preventative, patient-centered model. As they continue to innovate, what will further set them apart is their use of cutting-edge artificial intelligence and predictive modeling technologies designed to continuously analyze conditions of their patients, identify the earliest onset of clinical decline and rapidly provide medical interventions and follow-up care.

Tune in now to discover the future of medicine!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:55) Introduction to Andres Lazarte

(3:46) About Basis Health and Its Unique Approach

(6:07) The Future of Healthcare

(8:54) Basis Health’s Relocation to Bentonville

(13:33) Basis Health’s Involvement in the Greater Bentonville Community

(15:45) How Bentonville Helps Andres and His Family Balance Work and Life

(19:36) Andres’ #BecauseBentonville Story

(23:43) Advice to Aspiring Healthcare Entrepreneurs

(26:12) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Andres Lazarte

Basis Health

Quotes

“Our unique approach is that we send providers, nurses, and urgent care workers to the patient’s home and we see them on a consistent basis. We’re able to see how their living looks, whether it’s assisted living, independent living, memory care. Wherever the patient is, we can  meet them and bring healthcare to their door.” - Andres Lazarte, (4:17)

“Bentonville is the perfect spot because there’s support everywhere. We can really take all this healthcare and move it home because all the pieces are here, the support is here, the community is all about it…if you’re an entrepreneur, you should be flocking to Northwest Arkansas.”  - Andres Lazarte, (13:05)

“[Bentonville] is such a unique location because it gives us the opportunity to get out in nature. We get to go to all these incredible activities. Almost every single weekend there is something to be done, something we can do as a family or individually that doesn’t involve me being in my office or going out and visiting some of my clients, so it really does a great job. We work hard and we play hard here in Bentonville.” - Andres Lazarte, (16:38)

“There was a day I woke up early in the morning, I went fishing, went on a hike though Kohler, and then within that same morning had a meeting with some Fortune 500 business owners and people who work for some of the biggest companies in the country. That doesn’t happen anywhere else…and because of Bentonville, I’m able to fulfill my love of being with my family, go out and fish and enjoy nature and hike, and then also make meetings with people that other people in other parts of the world have to fly hundreds of miles to get to.” - Andres Lazarte, (20:00)

Summary

In this engaging episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell visits with Phillip Shepard, the visionary behind All Things NWA and a seasoned Realtor at Collier & Associates. Phillip brings more than a decade of real estate prowess to the table, passionately guiding people through the captivating landscape of Greater Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas. He explores the region's unique fusion of outdoor allure, bustling event scenes and tight-knit community, all set against a backdrop of a thriving business environment and abundant high-quality job opportunities. A champion of the area's blend of mid-sized city comfort and big-city amenities, Phillip proudly labels it as the best place to live, work and play in America. He recounts his own transition from Chicago, exploring numerous remarkable U.S. communities before identifying Northwest Arkansas as the ultimate locale. Throughout the conversation, Phillip sheds light on how the Greater Bentonville Area is drawing a diverse populace, fostering growth and entrepreneurship within a community fabric that's rich in collaboration and unity. 

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:54) Introduction to Phillip Shepard

(4:26) Phillip’s Relocation to NWA

(7:06) The Status of NWA’s Residential Property Market

(11:39) The Benefits of Living in the Greater Bentonville Area

(19:27) NWA’s Big City Amenities

(24:22) Upcoming Developments in the Greater Bentonville Area

(28:13) Phillip’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(31:44) Why Bentonville’s a Desirable Place to Live, Work and Play

(42:27) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Phillip Shepard

All Things NWA

All Things NWA YouTube

Everything NWA

Collier & Associates

Quotes

“In the scale of everything, Northwest Arkansas still is very affordable in comparison. Now, the asterisk there, is you can find cheaper housing in America, but the unique thing about this area is that you get all the benefits of a larger area but with affordable housing. It’s really hard to find that sweet balance between having an area where you can have a job, you can live, you can work, you can play all in NWA. But you can’t find that anywhere else in America and have that affordable housing aspect to it.” - Phillip Shepard,  (11:02)

“...to talk about the perks of Bentonville. That’s just kind of baked into the cake of being so close to the downtown section, all the events, all the community, all the biking trails, all of the things that go on in Downtown Bentonville. It’s fantastic.” - Phillip Shepard, (12:57)

“The fact the the Downtown [Bentonville] Area, which is very community focused, in a matter of months, can go from in one weekend, we can do farmers market, we can do a one hundred mile gravel race, we can do a 5k, we can do a Bentonville Film Festival, then an ice skating rink, and there’s a Bentonville Bike Fest happening. And it’s like how can so much happening in such a small area have such an impact and be done so well…you can leave the downtown square and come back the next day and it’s totally different. It’s an endless amount of stuff that only happens [in Bentonville].” - Phillip Shepard, (28:44)

“From a cultural perspective, there’s something for everyone. And the things that Bentonville has been focusing on are things that are core to almost everyone. If you say what’s important to a family, I want to have great schools for my kids, check. What’s important for people that want to move here, jobs and a career path, check. What’s important for people that just want to retire, you have Bella Vista, check. What’s important for single people that want to start a new life and get a new community, check. So you can go down the list and [the Greater Bentonville Area] hits so many important things.” - Phillip Shepard, (32:33)

Summary

Join host James Bell in this special episode of The Bentonville Beacon podcast featuring interviews with students from Bentonville Schools’s Ignite Professional Studies Program. These conversations were live-recorded at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit, where the students were exposed to innovators, creators and leaders reshaping the world. At the start of the show, James also sits down with the program’s Director, Jessica Imel, to learn how Ignite helps juniors and seniors gain valuable work-based experience, industry-valued credentials and high-quality classroom instruction across nine different career fields. Ignite Professional Studies upholds its commitment to excellence by creating a real, relevant learning environment that helps students make informed decisions about their futures and prepares them for challenges and opportunities ahead. This nationally recognized program represents the collaboration of education, business and community to provide students with unique and immersive involvement that results in highly skilled, adaptable global innovators and leaders. Tune in now to discover how one of Bentonville’s unique educational programs is shaping tomorrow’s leaders today!

Show Notes

(1:46) Introducing Jessica Imel

(3:39) About Ignite Professional Studies Program

(6:23) Jessica’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(8:06) What’s Next for Ignite

(11:12) Advice for Learning New Skills

(12:20) Introducing Kaushal Dhumal

(12:43) Kaushal’s Project with the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce

(14:43) Kaushal’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experience

(15:43) Kaushal’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(17:21) Introducing Sarthak Chaturvedi

(17:55) Sarthak’s Experience with Ignite Health Sciences

(19:32) Sarthak’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experience

(20:47) Sarthak’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(23:11) Introducing Aditya Sohaney

(26:54) Aditya’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experience

(28:13) Aditya’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(29:57) Introducing Praneel Vakkalagadda

(32:37) Praneel’s Experience with Ignite Health Sciences

(35:25) Pranee’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(36:57) Closing Thoughts

Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

Jessica Imel

Bentonville Schools

Ignite Professional Studies

Kaushal Dhumal

Sarthak Chaturvedi

Aditya Sohaney

Praneel Vakkalagadda

Quotes

“One year ago, the chamber offered us some complimentary tickets to the NWA Tech Summit, and it was over fall break so we weren't hosting class, but we offered this opportunity to students. We had a couple of students who took us up on it, even though it was fall break, and listened to a session and wanted to meet the speaker afterwards. And what ended up happening is they ended up getting on a call. He invited them to join his research project. They did. They spent nearly all summer working on it…Fast forward to this year's Tech Summit, they were invited to do a thirty minute session to share their findings. We have stories like that in all of the career strands that we offer, but it's just one of those things that you're like, only in Bentonville would something like that happen.” - Jessica Imel, (6:47)

“One story that I have is Walmart. The Store 100 was opening a section of the store that would be directed to only fulfilling online orders. And it would be different because it would be very automated. Store associates wouldn't have to go inside the store and take up aisle space, taking up a lot of time. It'd be much more efficient. And we got to meet the CEO personally. I got to talk to John Furner, the CEO of Walmart U.S., and that's something that can only happen in Bentonville. Meeting the CEO of a Fortune 1 company in a store, that would only happen in Bentonville.” - Kaushal Dhumal, (15:43)

“We were in DC for a hosted trip, and we got to go to the Capitol building and speak to our state senator. Many of the states had trouble getting access and speaking to their state senator, but Senator Boozman was so friendly with us and we were able to talk to him. And apart from that, just meeting government officials so easily. Like over at our Ignite building, we've had people like Lukas Walton come in, the Senator, the State Secretary of Education, the Walton Family Foundation that have toured our building. And I've had the opportunity to give them those tours. So having people of that level come into our school and try to see what Ignite is and what these different things that us students are doing is just something I believe can only happen in Arkansas. It's a small circle, but we're all tight together.” - Sarthak Chaturvedi, (20:57)

“I moved from India here last year, to Bentonville. And I think it's the people in Bentonville, the kindness of the people and how grateful they are. I don't think I've ever made friends so fast and people being so nice to me ever like that. And I think in the past year I've made the best friend circle ever, got these internships, the high school program for Ignite, and I think it's just all these things together that make Bentonville as a whole.” - Aditya Sohaney, (28:25)

“We're such a small community, right? But there's so much, there's so many companies and we're able to get those experiences more than somewhere in Dallas where there's so much competition. It's limited to what you can do…but with how small [Bentonville] is, we're able to meet so many people and they remember us too because it's not like they meet thousands of people every day. They remember our faces. So these opportunities to connect with people are helpful.” - Praneel Vakkalagadda, (35:35)

Summary

In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Dr. Dennis Rittle, President of NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC). NorthWest Arkansas Community College is a public, two-year institution that provides quality and affordable higher education in an effort to empower lives and strengthen communities within Northwest Arkansas and the surrounding areas. NWACC is a nationally recognized, comprehensive college serving regional, national and international students on two campuses in Northwest Arkansas. With approximately three decades of experience in the higher education industry, Dr. Rittle shares his vision for NWACC and dives into NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s rich history and how it connects to Bentonville’s dynamic evolution.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:54) Introduction to Dr. Dennis Rittle

(9:43) NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s History and Its Bond with Bentonville

(13:18) Dr. Rittle’s Vision for NWACC

(15:33) An Overview of NWACC’s Innovative Programs and Future Developments

(23:21) Personal and Professional Impact of Bentonville

(31:02) Dr. Rittle’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(35:19) How Dr. Rittle’s past Experiences Shaped His Leadership

(47:47) Advice to Individuals Aspiring to Be in the Field of Education

(54:20) Closing Thoughts

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Dr. Dennis Rittle ([email protected])

NorthWest Arkansas Community College (NWACC)

DennisRittle.com

Quotes

“[NorthWest Arkansas Community College’s] reaches are regional and now not only national, but international. We have students that are studying overseas. We have faculty that study overseas. We have those who are overseas coming here to Bentonville to study. Why is that? Because the college thought beyond. It thought bigger than itself, but it allowed the reach of Bentonville to go beyond…it thought big, it planned big, and then it played big.” - Dr. Rittle, (11:56)

“I think first and foremost, remembering that we are a community college, community is in our middle name. When people ask me, how should the college look and appear in the upcoming years, I said it should be a mirror of the community’s needs. Secondly, and tied inextricably to that mirroring of the community, is that we are student centric. We are focused on the needs of our students and where they are.” - Dr. Rittle, (13:25)

“They’re very eclectic, the students, both in their languages, in their experiences in life and in their stations of life. And so the more that we can have those relational collisions between students that allows to enhance the learning experience, that is my vision for the college.” - Dr. Rittle, (15:11)

“But here it is, [Bentonville] is an area that’s rapidly growing, and people still view other people as people. People are not viewed as things. They’re people. And I think that’s one of the greatest beauties here, is amongst all the innovation and all of the brilliance that exists here, through all of that, people still remember other people are people. And people are valued and respected and they’re treated well and they’re friendly.” - Dr. Rittle, (27:20)

Summary

In this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell is joined by Mark Bray, Owner and Founder of Airship Coffee. This independently owned, specialty coffee company boasts four unique cafes and a roastery, all located in Bentonville, Arkansas. Since its inception in 2008, Airship has consistently strived to exceed the ordinary in all its endeavors, with a strong commitment to enhancing the coffee experience for everyone involved. This commitment is underpinned by a dedication to excellence, fueled by the belief that its cafes are not just places to enjoy coffee, but vibrant hubs where genuine community connections flourish. Throughout the episode, James and Mark explore how Airship’s cafes are designed as destinations for adventure and why Bentonville's community-focused ethos makes it the perfect setting for Airship’s distinctive locations.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:52) Introduction to Mark Bray

(5:54) Airship’s Bentonville Locations

(13:57) How Bentonville’s Characteristics Influence Airship

(16:06) Airship’s Local Initiatives and Partnerships

(20:19) Mark’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(33:40) Advice to Business Owners That Are Community Driven

(39:07) What’s on the Horizon for Airship

(43:22) Closing Question

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Mark Bray

Airship Coffee

Bentonville Moves Coalition

Quotes

“Our idea around cafes is it’s not just a product that we’re designing, it’s an experience, and it’s a place. And so there’s the product that we associate with each one of our locations, and each one has a unique offering as well, but then there’s the identity of the place. And the Fifth Street location was a tasting room off the end of our roastery. So it’s become a place to get your canister filled, or buy a bag, and that is the identity of the place. We sell a tremendous amount of whole bean coffee to people that want to brew quality coffee at home.” - Mark Bray, (7:29)

“There’s an element of our culture at Airship that’s based on the identity of all the individuals that make up our community there internally. And I really believe that innovation only occurs when people are really hitting the sweet spot when they’re doing the thing that they were meant to do…And so my job in the business is to understand what that is for each person. And we’re trying to create a culture where that can come to life in the business. And then people are able to contribute to the community in that way.” - Mark Bray, (14:09)

“That’s what we’re here trying to do, is make Bentonville a better place to live. And to me, that really captures something very unique to Bentonville, there’s not a big us-versus-them mentality. There’s support coming from all angles.” - Mark Bray, (24:39)

“We chose Bentonville because we live here, raise our family here, and this is home. And it happens to have amazing potential for growth at the same time.” - Mark Bray, (44:57)

Summary

On this episode of The Bentonville Beacon, host James Bell sits down with Andrew Branch, Chief Operating Officer of XNA Northwest Arkansas National Airport. XNA began operations twenty-five years ago following an opening ceremony from then-President Bill Clinton and Air Force One. The airport's mission is to ensure that the safest and most modern aviation infrastructure is in place to satisfy the needs of the traveling public. The airport’s economic impact exceeds $500 million dollars and provides thousands of jobs annually. With nearly one million boardings, this year will be the best year in the airport’s history. Throughout the episode, James and Andrew discuss the start and growth of XNA and how the airport is connecting the region’s community to the world all while making Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas an even more desirable place for business and residents.

Thanks for tuning in!

Show Notes

Timestamps in this blog are for the audio-only version of the podcast; video timing differs.

(0:57) Introduction to Andrew Branch

(3:29) Andrew’s Role as Chief Operating Officer

(5:06) XNA Northwest Arkansas National Airport’s Founding Story and Its Achievements

(7:52) The Challenges of Growing an Airport

(9:46) New XNA Construction and Terminal Modernization

(17:27) Aspects of Northwest Arkansas That Draw People Here

(24:42) Andrew’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(26:27) How Northwest Arkansas’s Growth Is Influencing XNA

(30:25) Andrew’s Three Wishes for XNA

(34:25) Utilizing Skills Learned and Developed in Previous Roles

(37:37) Closing Thoughts

‍Links

James Bell 

Bentonville Economic Development 

Andrew Branch ([email protected])

XNA Northwest Arkansas National Airport

Quotes

“To your question about contributing to Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas’s desirability, the figure I’ve heard is something around sixty percent of people in Benton county were not born in Arkansas. So obviously they come from somewhere and their families are other places. That, along with the businesses that do business with Walmart, Tyson and J. B. Hunt that are here, having that connectivity where you can conduct business or have family visit you, it’s easier. I think that is huge for a region to be able to attract the kind of citizens we’re trying to attract to work at these companies.” - Andrew Branch, (11:47)

“I’ve lived in other places and not any place I’ve lived had so many of those things that you could do in one place and walk around. [Bentonville’s] like a perfect small town, and then five minutes away you’ve got all these other amenities that you wouldn’t see in a small town. And I think that’s what is unique about Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas.” - Andrew Branch, (25:16)

“I was at an event in Fayetteville today and they were talking about how if you live in Bentonville, you want Bentonville to win. But if Bentonville isn’t going to get this new business, if Fayetteville gets it, that’s great, because there’s a feeling of it being a region, and that’s unlike other places I’ve lived. It’s not so competitive between the different cities. Obviously, there’s some healthy competition, but if we can’t get it, we want them to get it. We want the region to win regardless of whether it’s our city or the next city.” - Andrew Branch, (23:21)

Summary

Join host James Bell in the final episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce and is supported by nearly 100 partners, including the Walton Family Foundation, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Verizon, Salesforce, T-Mobile for Business, Zebra, Scott Family Amazeum and Arvest. These episodes bring together voices from the event to share their company’s stories, personal insights and unique #BecauseBentonville moments that define the community’s character. Tune in as we explore the innovations and experiences that are fostering a culture where technology meets the essence of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas!

Show Notes

(1:12) Introducing Ranu Jung and I³R

(7:12) Ranu’s Ernst & Young Innovator of the Year Award

(8:48) Ranu’s #BecauseBentonville Story

( 11:49) Introducing Justin Urso and the Walton College Master of Science in Product Innovation

(13:28) About the McMillon Innovation Studio

(16:59) Justin’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experiences

(18:17) Justin’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(21:10) Introducing Randy Wilburn

(24:15) Randy’s Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit Experience

(26:18) Randy’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(31:29) Introducing to Jack Short and the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce

(34:56) Jack’s NWA Technology Summit Experience

(35:38) Jack’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(38:53) Introducing Katie Thompson and Science Venture Studio at Winrock International

(47:11) Katie’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(50:01) Katie’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(53:59) Closing Thoughts

Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

Ranu Jung

Institute for Integrative & Innovative Research (I³R) at University of Arkansas

University of Arkansas

Justin Urso

McMillon Innovation Studio at University of Arkansas

Master of Science in Product Innovation (MSPI) at University of Arkansas

Big Box Karaoke
Concord Adams

Randy Wilburn

ONBoardNWA

I am Northwest Arkansas

Jack Short

Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce

Katie Thompson

Science Venture Studio at Winrock International

Quotes

“You walk into this place, Northwest Arkansas, and what do you see on The Momentary shouting out in pink? You belong here. This place has a unique situation. Think of it like a baby and a toddler growing up, and excitement of people coming together and all sectors, right? There is the private industry. There’s the philanthropic organizations. There is an entrepreneurial spirit. What did I hear, thirty-six people a day coming into this place. Only in [Bentonville and NWA] can you think about a future where people say, ‘Are you crazy that you’re going to be able to deploy solutions?’ It’s like, no, we are not because we are together. We have the ability in this place, unlike many other places, to not only think of solutions, not only produce solutions, not only deliver them, but actually deploy them and be able to move them at scale. So converge and together find the solutions and then distribute an impact at scale and really globally ultimately.” - Ranu Jung, (8:52)

“[The Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit] has been incredible. The biggest thing about all of this is just seeing the growth in the community, the industry, and the tech leaders’ companies that are not from this area coming here to be part of this.” - Justin Urso, (17:00)

“I think only in Bentonville can you go to a building and ride into that building on your bike, ride around that building and experience what it’s like for a cyclist to be able to commute to work and commute to a building that’s actually built for them. And that’s the beauty…I have a space at the Ledger. I can ride my bike to work and park it almost basically at my office, and it is perfectly suited and set up for the environment that we’re trying to create in Northwest Arkansas of more people on bikes using alternative transportation and providing them with the necessary resources so that they can really take advantage of that.” - Randy Wilburn, (26:19)

“I would tell them that what they’re experiencing in Northwest Arkansas is the future of what the United States is going to be like. Because I do believe we’re setting a new standard for what things can be like from a diversity perspective, from an employment perspective, from a jobs creation perspective and from an education perspective.” - Randy Wilburn, (30:16)

“The Greater Bentonville Area specifically is Bentonville, Centerton, Pea Ridge and Bella Vista, and that is our framework of who we encompass as the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce. But the chamber membership itself, our member base, it’s international, it’s global. We got people from all across the world who are members with us, and it just makes for a very fantastic experience as a chamber member.” - Jack Short, (34:00)

“[In Bentonville] there’s so many opportunities for my kids to explore their creativity and explore the environment and stuff. I mean the Amazeum is one of the places that we love to go to, but now my kids are getting older and they want to go see the artwork and go to Crystal Bridges…I didn’t get those experiences growing up because I grew up in a very, very small town, but I’m able to share those experiences, and get to experience it myself but also see my kids experience them, and I hope that it’s given them some inspiration to be whoever they want to be.” - Katie Thompson, (50:29)

Summary

Join host James Bell in this third episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce and is supported by nearly 100 partners, including the Walton Family Foundation, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Verizon, Salesforce, T-Mobile for Business, Zebra, Scott Family Amazeum and Arvest. These episodes bring together voices from the event to share their company’s stories, personal insights and unique #BecauseBentonville moments that define the community’s character. Tune in as we explore the innovations and experiences that are fostering a culture where technology meets the essence of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas!

Show Notes

(1:12) Introducing Paul Jones

(1:53) About Gravity Industries

(9:01) Paul’s Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit Experience

(16:10) Introducing Daizhan Ennals

(18:02) About Renewed Robotics

(20:07) Daizhan’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(21:16) Daizhan’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(23:53) Introducing Lonnie Emard

(25:27) About Arkansas Center for Data Sciences (ACDS)

(30:32) Lonnie’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(32:39) Lonnie’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(37:04) Introducing Scott Benedict

(40:07) About McMillanDoolittle

(42:09) Scott’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(43:09) Scott’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(45:47) Introducing Micy Liu

(47:53) About Life Mission Capital

(48:29) Micy’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(52:20) Micy’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(59:19) Closing Thoughts

Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

Paul Jones

Gravity Industries

Daizhan Ennals

Renewed Robotics

Lonnie Emard

Arkansas Center for Data Sciences

Scott Benedict

McMillanDoolittle

Micy Liu

Life Mission Capital

Quotes

“We are in preparations now to do this race series, and we are currently looking for more locations. And Bentonville has been such a fantastic place and everyone’s so welcoming that we really do want to try and push something to come out here. So watch this space, but hopefully we’ll be here for a race series in the future.” - Paul Jones, (8:26)

“I’ve seen some very eager sixteen year olds from Bentonville High School, as well as students from Texas and California, come to get a hands on [experience] where the new technology is going to be developed in America. And a lot of people believe that Bentonville in Northwest Arkansas can definitely be that spot.” - Daizhan Ennals, (20:48)

“Only in Bentonville, with Walmart giving an opportunity to [a nontraditional candidate] that might have otherwise never gotten that chance, do we get to be a part of that process. To chalk it up, I think we’re seeing that all over the state but clearly in Bentonville because of the relationship of organizations with Walmart that is so willing to be that community partner.” - Lonnie Emard, (34:03)

“I think the most obvious visual is when you spend any time in the Bentonville Square because, as I was telling somebody last week, I had lunch at Table Mesa and I was telling them that it used to be an office supply store for many years. And normally, on any given weekday if you were on the square, there was nobody else there. But this particular day when we were coming out of Table Mesa, the square was full, we could not get a parking spot, just all sorts of neat activity going on. And I think that’s indicative of the area in total in that the square has become a hub of activity.” - Scott Benedict, (38:11)

“Especially with the Walton Family Foundation and what you guys are doing there to build amenities in the area, it makes it even more attractive. I mean, yesterday we heard about an interesting stats update from Robert Burns with the Walton Family Foundation. He talked about move speed a couple of years ago. It’s thirty people per day moving in right now. So it’s like a twenty percent growth in how many are moving in per day.” - Micy Liu, (54:12)

Summary

Join host James Bell in this second episode of a special four-part series of The Bentonville Beacon podcast, featuring live-recorded conversations at the 2023 Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit with the thinkers and doers shaping the future of global tech in Bentonville. The NWA Tech Summit is the Heartland’s premier technology conference and serves to enhance, prepare and diversify the Northwest Arkansas economy. Now in its tenth year, the event is hosted by the Greater Bentonville Area Chamber of Commerce, and is supported by nearly 100 partners, including Walton Family Foundation, Walmart, Sam’s Club, Verizon, Salesforce, T-Mobile for Business, Zebra, Scott Family Amazeum and Arvest. These episodes bring together voices from the event to share their company’s stories, personal insights and unique #BecauseBentonville moments that define the community’s character. Tune in as we explore the innovations and experiences that are fostering a culture where technology meets the essence of Bentonville and Northwest Arkansas!

Show Notes

(1:12) Introducing Charu Thomas

(3:32) About Ox

(5:48) Introducing Toby Teeter

(6:59) Bringing Biomanufacturing Workforce Development to NWA

(11:53) Association of University Research Parks 2024 International Conference in Bentonville

(17:00) Toby’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(19:56) Toby’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(22:25) Introducing Payton Lenz

(23:38) About Ledger

(27:14) Payton’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(29:41) Introducing David Sanders

(30:53) About EconoVention

(33:30) David’s NWA Tech Summit Experience

(34:52) David’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(37:53) Introducing Clayton Woodruff

(39:33) About Confiz

(40:20) Clayton’s NWA Technology Summit Experience

(41:12) Clayton’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(43:25) Introducing Rachel Hobert

(47:04) About Hivers & Strivers Capital

(55:15) Rachel’s NWA Summit Experience

(56:54) Rachel’s #BecauseBentonville Story

(1:00:05) Closing Thoughts

Links

James Bell

Bentonville Economic Development 

Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit

Charu Thomas

Ox

Toby Teeter

The Collaborative - Bentonville

Payton Lenz

Ledger

David Sanders

EconoVention

Clayton Woodruff

Confiz

Rachel Hobert

Hivers & Strivers Capital

Quotes

"When I first moved [to Bentonville] I didn’t know what to expect...Moving here from Atlanta was a leap of faith not knowing what the environment would be like. And I was so thrilled and pleasantly surprised by how kind and warm everyone was. And of course, with the immense talent across retail and supply chain from Walmart, Tyson, J.B. Hunt and the 1,300 suppliers and vendors that support them, it became home." - Charu Thomas, (3:32)

“Next year, Bentonville and Fayetteville are going to host The Association of University Research Parks International Convention…This is an opportunity for The University of Arkansas and Northwest Arkansas to show out and discuss best practices when you’re talking about creating a place where innovation happens. There’s a special thing happening in Northwest Arkansas and the world is starting to understand what’s happening here.” - Toby Teether, (12:11)

“It’s a [Bentonville] community hub, right? It’s not just an office building. It’s not just a meeting location. Not just an event space. It’s a space where people can truly come and gather and be part of something bigger than themselves. And that goes back to what Ledger is solving. It’s this whole ecosystem around bringing the community in, but also pushing people out into the community as well. So it creates this nice little ecosystem of these casual collisions and these companies being created.” - Payton Lenz, (23:45)

“I really like the feel of Bentonville, the attitude of the people and the flavor. And I’m sure this year’s [Northwest Arkansas Tech Summit] is going to be expanded because it’s much, much bigger this year than what we saw last year.” - Davis Sanders, (33:49)

“[The Northwest Arkansas Technology Summit] has been great…We get the benefit of having a lot of big companies here. We get the Walmarts, the J.B. Hunts, The Tysons. So the stuff you get to hear is really cool.” - Clayton Woodruff, (40:20)

“...we settled on Bentonville as a place to move because we looked at all of the incredible work everybody has already put into it. The University of Arkansas, private and public corporations, and a ton of nonprofits that are really into entrepreneurship. We saw an opportunity that not only could we really grow and build here in Northwest Arkansas, but there’s a lot of cultural alignment with our values of being services oriented and being willing to help a neighbor, help a friend, and that inclusivity exists here.” - Rachel Hobert, (44:44)